CineBad!!!

This is John Waters’ most notorious film and it’s also supposed to be the most tasteless film ever made. Personally, I think my definition of “bad taste” might be a little bit different from most people’s, but I won’t argue that this film deserves its reputation.

Divine plays Babs Johnson, a fugitive criminal who is also self-styled as the “Filthiest Person Alive.” When Babs’ title is challenged by the cunning Connie and Raymond Marble, Babs must embark upon a crusade to save her bad name. By far my favorite person in this movie is Babs’ mother, played by Edith Massey, who lives in a playpen and whines loudly for eggs. Then there’s Cotton, Babs’ lovely travelling companion, and Crackers, her sleazily sexy young son.

I won’t give away this film’s many revolting surprises, but there are weird and unappetizing sex scenes, strange body parts in performance, tortured animals, hermaphrodites, murder– basically everything that Jesse Helms is against. In fact, I would say that this movie is practically perfect.

Pink Flamingos was re-released a few years back, and has been making the art house circuit ever since. It’s a favorite at pseudo-progressive ivy league school theaters like Cornell’s and Harvard’s. By all means, see it on the big screen if you can!